The brand color of the Austrian Armed Forces is already olive green, but the military is working on becoming greener inside too. The Airpower flight show planned for 2022 is to become a “Green Role Model”. “For the first time in the history of the armed forces, we will be setting up a more sustainable and greener air power,” said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) in an interview with APA. The armed forces also run many other greening projects.
For the green Airpower, a dedicated sustainability department was set up in the organization team. With the deployment of a team of experts in the field of sustainability and environmental protection, the Armed Forces are making a contribution to a more sustainable “greener” air show and “bridging the gap between climate protection and the orientation of Airpower22”, said the minister.
In addition, the armed forces are trying to secure biodiversity on military training areas. The Allentsteig military training area is part of the “Natura 2000 network of protected areas”. The “Klimateller” project is trying to ensure more regionality and seasonality when eating in the barracks. At the same time, food waste in the troop kitchens is reduced. There is special training for employees during military training in the areas of environmental protection, sustainability, ecology and waste separation. Investments such as clothing and motor vehicles generate as much domestic added value as possible. Wherever possible, electric cars are purchased.
“Like democracy, the principle of sustainability is based on three pillars: ecology, social affairs and economics. Aspects of this find their way into many areas of the department. This also applies to comprehensive national defense, which includes intellectual, civil, economic and military national defense With various projects and implementations, we want to add an ecological aspect to this, as it were as an aspect or part of national military defense. With this, we not only want to promote sustainability and sensitize our employees to this, but also the implementation of the federal government’s climate goals with the Linking the armed forces – in the interests of nature and the environment. “
There is also a lot of potential in real estate, for example through the construction of photovoltaic systems. In addition, there are pilot projects for the generation, storage and use of kinetic, thermal and electrical energy. A major project is the conversion of all barracks to self-sufficiency. By 2025, 100 barracks across Austria should be able to function independently in order to be able to react quickly and efficiently in threat scenarios such as a blackout. “For the self-sufficient barracks, we have put together a package that will be implemented in parallel or on top of the building program. There is a prioritization concept for the whole of Austria and that is processed point by point. Because it is clear that we have to make our armed forces more modern and new Prepare threats. In total, we will invest more than 90 million euros over the next five years, “explains Tanner.
Implementation has already started this year, including, for example, the Maria-Theresien-Kaserne in Vienna or the Flugfeld Kaserne in Wiener Neustadt. Barracks such as the Landwehr barracks in St. Michael or the Standschützen barracks in Innsbruck and the Dabs barracks in Korneuburg will follow in 2022. 2023 will start with the Belgian barracks but also with Raab barracks or the barracks in Villach.